THE COURT: You may proceed, Mr. Sciambra. You were talking at the same time and it is hard for the Court Reporter to get it when two people are talking. You may proceed.
BY MR. SCIAMBRA:
Q: Were the two men still in line?
A: They were.
Q: After your lunch break, when was the next time you left the office?
A: At approximately 3:30 I went back for coffee.
Q: Were the two men in the automobile still there?
A: I noticed them still sitting there.
Q: And when you returned from coffee after the coffee break, was the automobile --
A: They were still there.
Q: Would you tell the Court what happened when you got back in your office after the 3:30 coffee break.
A: Soon after I got back, the first white man came in the office. I asked him for his identification, and he gave me a driver's license from Livingston Parish. His name was Estes [sic] Morgan, and he didn't have enough identification to register because he couldn't prove that he was in the Parish long enough so I sent him out.
Q: When did the next white boy come in?
A: Probably one or two others came between him, and then he came. I asked him for his identification, and he pulled out a U.S. Navy ID card.
Q: (Exhibiting photograph to witness) Now I show you a picture that the State has marked "S-1" for purposes of identification, and I ask you if you recognize the individual in this picture?
A: Yes, sir, I do.
Q: Is this the individual who came into your office that day?
A: It is.
Q: Do you know who is the individual in that picture?
A: Lee H. Oswald.
Q: Would you tell the Court what transpired when you talked to Oswald in your office.
A: When Mr. Oswald came in there and gave me the identification, ID card, I looked at the name on it, had Lee H. Oswald with a New Orleans address -- I don't remember what the address was. I asked him where he lived, and -- can I state what he said, where he lived?
MR. DYMOND: We object to anything said.
BY MR. SCIAMBRA:
Q: Don't tell us anything he said.
THE COURT: Don't tell us anything he said but tell us what questions you put to him, what you said to him. I know it is a little difficult, but try.
BY MR. SCIAMBRA:
Q: In reference to what he was trying to do, tell us what you told him.
A: He was trying to -- wanted a job at the hospital in Jackson.
MR. DYMOND: If the Court please, he is trying to do indirectly what can't be done directly.
THE COURT: It is a difficult situation. Just tell us, if you will, Mr. Palmer, what you told him you had to find out from him if he told you that. Just tell us what you spoke to him about.
A: His ID card didn't identify his living in the Parish of East Feliciana, so I told him, asked him if he knew the business manager at the hospital in Jackson or if he knew the Mayor of the Town of Jackson or if he knew the Representative of the Parish. He couldn't give me any proof that he was living in the Parish long enough, but I told him he did not have to be a registered voter to get a job at the Jackson Hospital. He thanked me and left.
Q: How long did you say you talked to Oswald at that --
A: Oswald was in the office approximately 15 or 20 minutes.
Q: How many times did you see Oswald in line before you talked to him in your office?
A: He was in line when I went down for coffee and when I come back and went for lunch and when I come back and when I went for coffee in the afternoon and when I came back, and then he came in my office.
Q: And how close did you get to him on these occasions?
A: He was standing on the steps, and the steps were about four feet wide, and I had to go right by him.
Q: Approximately what time did you leave your office that day?
A: At approximately quarter to 6:00 I imagine, somewhere around in that area they quit coming in and I closed.
Q: Was the black Cadillac still parked outside when you left your office that day?
A: No, sir, it had gone.
Q: About what time did you say Oswald left your office?
A: A little after 4:00.
Q: And did you go outside any time between the time that he left the office and the time you left the office?
A: No, I never left the office any more.
Q: Did you see Lee Harvey Oswald's picture on the television or in the newspaper after the assassination?
A: I was watching the television when they put him on the first time, and recognized him.
Q: Where did you recognize him from?
A: From the man that came in my office to register.
Q: Did you see Shaw's picture in the newspaper?
A: Yes, sir, I did.
Q: Did you recognize him?
A: No, sir.
MR. DYMOND: Objection.
THE COURT: What is your objection?
MR. DYMOND: I will withdraw the objection.
(LAUGHTER)
THE BAILIFF: Order in court!
BY MR. SCIAMBRA:
Q: Do you remember the first law enforcement agency or officer that you told this to?
A: I didn't understand that, Mr. Sciambra.
Q: Do you remember the first law enforcement officer that you told this to?
A: Yes, I do.
Q: Who was that?
A: Mr. Francis Fruge.
Q: Have you ever been questioned by the FBI about this?
A: I have not.
Q: Has the FBI ever shown any interest in the fact that Lee Harvey Oswald was in Jackson and Clinton?
MR. DYMOND: That is objected to, Your Honor, on the ground that it calls for a conclu- sion of the witness as to whether the FBI has shown interest.
THE COURT: Sustain the objection.
BY MR. SCIAMBRA:
Q: Have the FBI ever contacted you?
A: They have not.
MR. SCIAMBRA: I tender the witness, Your Honor.
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. DYMOND:
Q: Now, Mr. Palmer, approximately when was this voter registration drive up there in
Clinton?
A: Mr. Dymond -- I believe it is Mr. Dymond, is it?
Q: Yes, that is right.
A: -- it started sometime in the last part of July.
Q: Of what year was that, sir?
A: Of 1963.
Q: 1963?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: So if you tried to pin this down as to date, what would be the best estimate of date that you could give?
A: Well, Mr. Dymond, after checking back over my records after talking to Mr. Fruge and them, I can pinpoint it pretty close.
Q: And what would you say?
A: It was in the last part of August or the first part of September, right in there.
Q: I see. Now, when you say these two men whom you have described, were they sitting in this black Cadillac, Mr. Palmer?
A: Yes, sir, they were.
Q: They were?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: And about how close to them did you get, sir?
A: About 15 to 20 feet.
Q: But you did get a good look at them?
A: No, sir, I didn't get a good look at them, I just saw the back of them, I didn't see the faces.
Q: You didn't see either man's face?
A: No, side view of the man on the right, and as far as the man on the left, I saw the back of his head and shoulders, just the back part right back here (indicating), that is all I can say.
Q: Well, actually I guess you only saw one eyebrow on the man with the bushy eyebrows?
A: Yes, just one eyebrow; he was turned kind of to the side, you could see that.
Q: So actually in describing these two individuals, all that you can really describe is the back of the head and the shoulders of one and the profile of the other? Is that correct?
A: That is correct, sir.
Q: And as I understand your testimony, Mr. Palmer, you are willing to say that the one whose profile you saw had mussed-up hair and one bushy eyebrow? Is that correct, sir?
A: That is correct.
Q: And the other man whom you saw had gray hair and broad shoulders?
A: Broad shoulders, and appeared tall from sitting down. He could have been a short man with a long upper waist, I couldn't tell you, all I saw was sitting --
Q: In all honesty that is as far as you can go?
A: That is as far as I can go.
Q: Thank you very much.
THE COURT: Do you have any further need of this witness, Gentlemen?
REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. SCIAMBRA:
Q: (Exhibiting photograph to witness) Mr. Palmer, I show you a picture that the Defense
has marked "D-2" for purposes of identification, and I ask you if you recognize the individual in that picture.
A: Yes, sir, I do.
Q: Do you know who the individual in that picture is?
A: Yes, I do.
Q: Who is it?
A: Mr. Banister.
Q: Where do you know Mr. Banister from?
A: I knew Mr. Banister in the Service in World War II.
Q: Is there any possibility that Mr. Banister could have been the person in that automobile?
A: I am sure I would have known Mr. Banister if I had seen him.
Q: Thank you.
BY THE COURT:
Q: That is Mr. Guy Banister?
A: Yes, sir.
BY MR. SCIAMBRA:
Q: (Exhibiting photograph to witness) I show you what the Defense has marked "D-1" for
purposes of identification, and I ask you do you recognize the person in that picture.
A: No, sir.
THE COURT: I can't hear you.
THE WITNESS: Right offhand I can't. Looks like Guy Banister but I don't believe it is.
MR. SCIAMBRA: No further questions, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Do you have any further questions, Mr. Dymond?
MR. DYMOND: Yes, just one further question.
RECROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. DYMOND:
Q: (Exhibiting photograph to witness) Mr. Palmer, showing you again this photograph "D-2," you say it looks like Mr. Banister but you couldn't be sure? Is that right?
A: No. If it was since I -- no, I don't believe it is Guy Banister.
Q: Now, Mr. Palmer, in all honesty you would not testify, sir, that you could recognize Mr. Banister just by seeing the back of his head and his shoulders, would you, sir?
A: No, but I think if Guy Banister had been there I would have seen him, I would have recognized him.
Q: But not by just seeing the back of his head and his shoulders?
A: I don't know, but I --
MR. DYMOND: That is all, sir.
THE COURT: Step down. Any further need of this witness, gentlemen, either the State or the Defense?
MR. DYMOND: No, sir.
THE COURT: Mr. Palmer, you are excused. Take the Jury upstairs. We will take a recess for about ten minutes.
(Whereupon, a recess was taken.)